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Tuesday, January 26, 2010
2009 Jaguar XJ Side View
2009 Jaguar XJ Front
2009 Jaguar XJ Dashboard
2009 Jaguar XJ Front Side
2009 Jaguar XJ is a Super Luxury Cars. The 2009 XJ is the last Jag to wear the 1940's-inspired look that the brand has relied on in recent years. The 2010 XJ, headed to delaerships soon, is a radical redesign that looks nothing like the Jags of old.
Morgan Aero Car Side
Morgan Aero Car Front Side
Morgan Aero Car Dashboard
Morgan Aero Car Front
Now that BMW has replaced the twin-turbo 335i with the new twin-scroll, direct injection model, the question everyone's been asking – and by everyone, we mean Bimmer fanatics – is what will happen to the outgoing N44 engine? The new N55 produces the same power and the same torque, but with a flatter curve that makes the grunt more accessible. Yet as every BMW tuner knows, the outgoing N44 has more potential. So the answer, according to reports, is BMW's plan to offer a new model dubbed the 335is.
Like the almost-an-M Z4 sDrive35is that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show last week, the new 335is is tipped to get a revised version of the twin-turbo inline-six, producing 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque (with overboost unleashing 369 lb-ft). Coupled with an M-Sport appearance package with a blacked-out grille and matching mirrors, and a choice of either six-speed manual or (for the first time outside of the M range) seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and you're looking at the hottest dreiwagen this side of an M3. The run from 0 to 60 is expected to be dispatched in five seconds flat, with a top speed limited to 149 mph instead of 130.
The best part, however, is that – according to reports and some leaked documents – the 335is is slated to launch in the North American market before being considered for anywhere else. Finally some payback for all those hot European models we've been longing for from the opposite shore.
The 2010 BMW X6 M seems to be in the final testing stages and it has been spotted once again near the BMW Plant in Spartanburg, SC. Our friend Palbay was there once again snapping photos of this controversial BMW //M model.
The X6 M has never been confirmed by BMW and all the hints that we received over the last months were about "the new performance twins". The BMW X6 M rumors have been received with skepticism by the bimmer fans, majority of them disagreeing with BMW's intention of adding more M performance models to the SAV/SAC market. The BMW X5 M is another model that was spotted several times near Spartanburg, but it is expected to make its debut after the X6 M.
There has been always a debate on which engine will or should power the X6 M. The 4.4 liter V8 Twin-Turbo, supercharged version was rumored to be one of them, but recently we heard that the 5.0 liter V10 engine from the M5 but with twin-turbos and will be used for the X6 M. The engine is rumored to output 580 horsepower making the X6 M a true performance model.
The BMW X6 M will compete for the market with Porsche's Cayenne Turbo and Mercedes-Benz's ML63 AMG.
Pricing? Unknown at the time, but do expect a premium price that will make the X6 M one of the most expensive BMWs.
Since BMW has not announced anything exciting for the Detroit Show, I'm wondering if we will see the X6 M displayed there
E89 BMW Z4 Head Light
So, as you can see, the new E89 BMW Z4 takes a big step in its new styling. It features very similar designs from the updated 2009 3-Series and the new F-series 7. I love it! I think it's a fantastic way for BMW to go in this department. The interior has an even nicer build quality look than the previous model.
E89 BMW Z4 Steering & DashBoard
I like how the interior deploys a different look and feel than the current models offered by BMW. One thing BMW does, similarly to mot automakers, they seem to use very similar interior styling. Not that it bothers me, it's just always nice to get into a Z4 and see that it has nothing really in common with a 5-Series. Now, if you get into a 5er and a 3er and see that there are similar placements of the buttons, that's fine, because they serve similar purposes.
Whereas cars like the Z4, 6er and 7's serve the purpose of being the BMW's for different clients. The Z4 is the client that wants a traditional sports car. The 6-Series is the person that wants the upscale BMW in a coupe fashion. Basically a coupe 7. The 7, well, do I have to explain why people buy the 7? I didn't really think so.
E89 BMW Z4 Side
The one thing that I do love about BMW, and especially when I talk to the client advisors, the fancy way of calling them salesman, or when I talk to the product managers and such, they all seem to say the same thing without fault, BMW is sport first, and everything else second. I love that attitude. It's about the driver and his or her needs, not all of the fancy stuff they can have. They can have it in there too, if they so please. They just need to click the option box on that one.
But it's what makes a BMW a BMW. There is no BMW that is derived more on luxury than it is sport. That's not what the company has been about in its long history. BMW is a company, like Porsche and Ferrari, that needs no new business plan. They've had pretty much the same one since the beginning, and while they may tweak it here and there, it still drives toward the same balance of customer satisfaction through motorsports.
E89 BMW Z4 Front View
But, back to what I was talking about before. The new Z4 is an excellent of BMW tweaking things here and there, but keeping the overall principle. A small 2-door, 2-seat car with traditional motives of sports car abilities and functions, with the right amount of luxury and technology drawn in.
E89 BMW Z4 Gear
One thing that I do not like about any of the new BMW's is this push button park brake feature. What in the hell is this? Why can't I have my e-brake to pull whenever I need to? I want to be able to pull in e-brake in the event of an emergency, or the event I want, or need, to help enable a good, clean powerslide, or drift as the new kids call it. Sometimes you want to add a little opposite lock into your daily driving, am I wrong?
Well, at least that's for those of us who can do it and not kill someone, because we're immature and need to learn when not to be stupid on the roads. That means, don't ever be stupid. Be smart, drive safely, because you never know, the person who's life you may be saving, could be mine…
E89 BMW Z4 Head Light
I can't finish on a down note about the new Z4. It will sure be one hell of an automobile. I can't wait to get one from BMW and put it through its paces. I just hope it has a manual and is a different color than the champagne they seem to love to use to show in their pictures.
BMW, if you're reading, PLEASE, give us the new twin-turbo V8 with a new Z4 M!!! I can't stress enough how great the last Z4 M was. I've driven a Z4 M coupe on so many occasions. It made my heart pump as hard as the times I've driven the new E90/E92 M3. And, if you know me, that's saying a lot! Give us an ///M. Please, also give us a dedicated coupe. I love the hardtop convertible feature, but I, personally, would rather have a coupe.
BMW M ZERO CAR BACK
BMW M ZERO CAR BACK SIDE
BMW M ZERO CAR SIDE
BMW M ZERO CAR FRONT
BMW M ZERO CAR FRONT SIDE
BMW M ZERO CAR
BMW M ZERO CAR FRONT
BMW M ZERO CAR UPPER FRONT
Nuvis Concept makes its world debut at the 2009 New York Auto Show
Mercedes F-CELL Roadster is a fuel-cell-drive concept built by a team of 150 trainees of Daimler AG at the Sindelfingen Mercedes-Benz plant which took a year to be completed. Powered by a 1.2 kW fuel cell system located at the rear, Mercedes F-CELL Roadster will reach its top speed at 25 km/h and has a range of 350 km. Mercedes F-CELL Roadster design is inspired by the Benz Patent Motor Car from 1886, which features a unique fiberglass front section, large spoked wheels, and also carbon-fiber bucket seats with hand-stitched leather covers. While on the front section, the design is inspired by the F1 race cars. Mercedes F-CELL Roadster is equipped with a drive-by-wire joystick instead of a steering wheel.
Mercedes Concept Car Side View
In a hitherto unique project bridging various fields of profession, the trainees of Daimler AG at the Sindelfingen Mercedes-Benz plant have built a Roadster with fuel cell drive. For about a year, more than 150 trainees and dual education system students worked on the overall concept, development, assembly, and completion of the Mercedes F-CELL Roadster. This project involved junior employees from the fields of automotive mechatronics, model-building, electronics, coating technology, manufacturing mechanics, product design, and interior appointments. The prime objective of the project was to integrate the topic of alternative drive systems into training with
hands-on experience.
Mercedes Concept Car Front
“This project impressively demonstrates that the topic of sustainable mobility has become an integral part of our vocational training,” said Human Resources Board member and Labor Relations Manager Günther Fleig. “I am delighted to see how much initiative and creativity the young people have put into this project.”
Mercedes Concept Car Upper View
Mercedes F-CELL Roadster uniquely combines state-of-the-art technologies with the history of vehicle construction. As an allusion to the Benz Patent Motor Car from 1886, the vehicle is fitted with large spoked wheels. Moreover, the Mercedes F-CELL Roadster incorporates stylistic elements from diverse eras of automotive history, such as the carbon-fiber bucket seats with hand-stitched leather covers and the distinctively styled fiberglass front section, based on the component from the Formula One racing bolides.
Mercedes Concept Car Side View
Mercedes F-CELL Roadster is controlled with drive-by-wire technology, and a joystick takes the place of a conventional steering wheel. The vehicle is powered by the emission-free fuel cell system located at the rear. With a power rating of 1.2 kW the Mercedes F-CELL Roadster reaches a top speed of 25 km/h and has an operating range of up to 350 km.
Mazda’s latest series of concept cars seem like odd organic cars that do not look like it may make it’s way into production form anytime soon, and the latest is the Mazda Taiki concept which continues to follow the Nagare theme established with the first car in the new concept line, the Mazda Nagare. Nagare means flow, and Mazda turned to nature for inspiration - using cues from natural flow lines all around us - shapes in sand dunes etched by the wind, ocean waves, lava flow down a volcano, and etc. All three design centers - US, European and Japan contributed to this series of concepts, with cars like the original Nagare coming from the US-based design center and the Mazda Ryuga from the Hiroshima Design Center in Japan. The Mazda Hakaze design concept came from the European Design Center. The Mazda Taiki is the fourth in the series, and this one comes from the Hiroshima Design Center team led by Chief Designer Yamada Atsuhiko. Every concept car represents a different segment of future cars, for example the Mazda Ryuga was envisioned as a future compact car. The Mazda Taiki points to a possible future design direction for Mazda sports cars. The stretched coupe has short overhangs and its interior has a liberating and free feel to it thanks to an all-glass canope. It has a drag coefficient of 0.25 and zero lift. Air is channeled through the front fender via a tunnel formed between the body and the rear fender - this creates downforce. This design concept is also used to unveil some technical goodies. The 2-seater Mazda Taiki is conceptually powered by the next generation RENESIS rotary engine engine called the RENESIS 16X. The engine will be mounted at the front and will power the rear wheels, a proven formula for a sports car. More details on that engine will come in a later post, but you’ll be pleased to know that Mazda is the latest manufacturer to jump on the twin clutch bandwagon. The RENESIS 16X engine will be mated to a 7-speed dry twin clutch transmission. Suspension is a double wishbone setup for both front and rear, and the car rides on 22 inch Enkei wheels wrapped with Yokohama Advan Super-E spec Prototype 007 tyres in 195/40R22 size. As for dimensions, the Mazda Taiki is 4620mm long, 1950mm wide, 1240mm tall and has a wheelbase of 3000mm.
Starting with the SL Night Edition, Merc's flagship auto auto is accomplished in an absolute designo magno night atramentous acrylic and appearance 19-inch AMG five-spoke light-alloy auto in a two-tone, high-gloss finish, silver-painted advanced anchor callipers with the Mercedes-Benz logo and blurred headlamps/tail lights.
Inside, the SL's berth is dressed in atramentous nappa covering and animated chrome trim while the seats additionally accept arrow-shaped seams and silver-colored allegory features. Finally, the sports council wheel, about-face batten and roof lining are in black.
Moving assimilate the SLK Grand Edition, the bunched auto is acclaimed on the alfresco by the designo graphite acrylic finish, 18-inch light-alloy auto with bristles amateur spokes, silver-coloured fins on the beanie and blurred headlamps
Mercedes-Benz Interiors
Mercedes-Benz Front Side
Mercedes-Benz Back
Two Mercedes-Benz
Aston Martin DB9 Volante
Aston Martin DB9 Volante
Aston Martin DB9 Volante Interior
Mercedes Side View
Mercedes Open Doors
Mercedes Front View
The Porsche 911 better look out because Mercedes-Benz is reportedly working on a new sports car based on a shortened version of the 2010 SLS AMG’s platform targeted directly at it. The new Mercedes-Benz sports car will copy the SLS AMG’s aluminum construction but will lose the funky gullwing doors.
Instead, conventional front-hinged doors will be adopted in an effort to bring costs down. The new model will also pick up AMG’s next-generation V-8 engine, a 5.5-liter unit with direct-injection and turbocharging technologies and an output of around 500-horsepower. Acceleration times for the 0-60 mph dash are expected to fall around the 4.5 second mark.
The new sports car is tipped to be called the SSK AMG and is due for launch in 2014--an open top roadster version is an almost certainty.
